Corporate governance

The Board

Peter Harris

Non-executive Chairman

Peter Harris, aged 66, qualified as a chartered accountant having studied at Sheffield University. After a number of years in the accountancy profession he joined Borden Inc., a multinational food packaging and industrial product company, where he spent 13 years in a variety of senior financial roles. In 1994 Peter was appointed as finance director of RAC plc (formerly Lex Service Plc), a leading automotive services provider. In 1999 he became a group managing director of RAC plc, heading a number of businesses including Lex Transfleet, Lex Multipart, Lex Commercials, Lex Defence and RAC Software Solutions. In April 2006, following the acquisition of RAC plc by Aviva plc, Peter was appointed chief executive of Dawson Holdings plc, the media supply chain business, from which he retired in June 2009. Peter is also chairman of Atmaana Business Consulting Ltd and Senior Advisor to Chetwode SAS. He is a member of the Remuneration and Audit Committees of the Company.

Eric Hook

Chief Executive

Eric Hook, aged 64, qualified as a chartered certified accountant (“FCCA”) in 1983 and spent many years in financial roles, culminating in his appointment as finance director of Harvey Plant Ltd, a subsidiary of Lex Service Plc. In 1994 Eric was appointed chief executive of Andrews Sykes Group Plc, the listed support services company, where he led the turnaround of the loss-making group. Eric left Andrews Sykes in 1999 to lead the Longville Group, a private equity-backed consolidation of three industrial hire businesses. He expanded Longville organically and by acquisition to gain a market-leading position in pumps, fluid chillers and diesel generators. Eric left the Longville Group to establish Northbridge Industrial Services in 2003.

Ash Mehta

Non-executive Director (independent)

Ash Mehta, aged 52, qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG, following which he worked in commercial finance roles in US multinationals. He has since held a number of senior financial roles in fully listed and AIM companies, and has extensive experience in IPO-type fundraisings and acquisitions. Ash was part-time Finance Director of the Group from 2007 to 2011 when he became a Non-executive Director of Northbridge. He is a member of the Remuneration and Audit Committees of the Company. Ash is currently chief financial officer of Avicenna plc, a pharmacy retail and distribution group.

David Marshall

Non-executive Director (independent)

David Marshall, aged 73, is chairman of a number of public listed companies, including Western Selection PLC, which is a substantial shareholder of Northbridge Industrial Services plc. In recent years he has taken a leading role in the reorganisation and development of a number of medium-sized listed companies in the UK and overseas. He is a member of the Remuneration and Audit Committees of the Company.

Ian Gardner

Divisional Managing Director

Ian Gardner, aged 51, joined the Group in 2007 and was instrumental in the start-up and subsequent growth of Northbridge Middle East and Northbridge Asia-Pacific and he now holds responsibility for the Group’s Oil and Gas Division; Tasman Oil Tools. Following the successful integration of the Tasman Oil Tools businesses, Ian is now residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, giving him access to the Tasman Division and supporting the new Joint Venture within the region. Ian has over 28 years’ experience in the industrial services and rental sector, with over 19 years being within international roles, and has championed start-ups and acquisitions and driven growth in Singapore and the Middle East, prior to joining the Group.

Iwan Phillips

Finance Director

Iwan Phillips, aged 34, studied at Warwick University before joining BDO in 2005, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 2008. He spent five years at BDO, working on the audits of a variety of businesses but specialising in fully listed and AIM companies. Iwan joined Northbridge in 2010 as the Group Accountant and was appointed the Group’s Finance Director in 2016. He was appointed as Company Secretary in 2011.

Nitin Kaul

Non-executive Director (independent)

Nitin Kaul, aged 43, studied at Kings College and City Business School before joining Arthur Andersen in 1996 where he worked across various business lines in Europe, Asia and North America. He joined Tomkins plc in 2002 and spent over thirteen years with the group in senior finance, M&A and operating roles, including heading various group businesses in the oil and gas vertical.